It’s no secret that golf is a mental game. It’s a game of skill, patience, and focus… and leaves us wondering, Why it is a Great Teacher of Life?
Probably one of the most challenging games to master and, at the same time, the 10th most popular sport globally!
But why do around 25 million Americans drag themselves to the golf course regularly if it’s such a challenging sport?
It’s simple; nothing is more rewarding than executing the perfect shot. Especially if you are playing a match with your friends, or try to beat your personal best.
Naturally, golf can teach us a lot about our own life. How we deal with disappointment, how do we attack complex tasks, or how we stay on track with our goals without losing focus.
Keep reading to learn what golf teaches you about life and how you can use it to your advantage.
Keep your cool – Golf is a Mental Game!
As in real life, on the golf course, not everything always goes as planned.
You’ll miss shots, you’ll miss plan a hole, and 100 different nuances could go wrong when playing golf.
I can’t tell you how often I have seen players looking their cool on the golf course and throw their clubs in anger after a lousy shot.
This rarely results in an improvement. Let’s be factual; after you hit the shot, it’s done, and there is nothing you can do about it.
A good exercise you can do on the golf course to help you in real life is to limit your reactions to acknowledging a lousy shot and celebrating a good shot.
This way, you keep the spectrum of emotions limited and don’t go down the rabbit hole of following up a bad shot with a stupid shot.
In real life, don’t spend energy focusing on things you can’t change. Once it’s done, it’s done. Move on.
Accept the outcome
As I said, once the ball has left your clubface, there is nothing you can do that will influence where it lands.
This being said, you always have an opportunity to analyze your game and make better playing decisions next time.
Accepting the outcome means that you focus on what’s ahead of you, not what’s in the past.
It also means that you use this information to make better decisions going forward. Maybe you’re hitting a fade today. If that’s the case, aim for a fade.
Don’t try to fight your natural shot shape on the golf course, but accept the current situation and make the best out of it.
Similarly, we have to play the cards we’re dealt with in real life. There is a time when you work on your skill, the driving range, for example, and when you use what you have to its max.
It’s not easy
Golf is not easy. And that might be the reason why it’s so popular.
To quote what one of the greatest golfers of all time has to say:
“Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated; it satisfies the soul and frustrates the intellect. It is at the same time rewarding and maddening – and it is without a doubt the greatest game mankind has ever invented. “ — Arnold Palmer
You can’t expect quick results, and playing good golf requires you to put in the hours on the range.
But like real life, things that are worth getting are usually hard to acquire. There are exceptions, of course, but there is a reason why only around 50% of golfers frequently break 100 on the golf course.
Considering the popularity of golf, you might wonder why almost 25 million Americans play golf regularly.
The answer is that the reward of achieving an impossible goal is gratifying!
Imagine crushing your scoring goal, or hitting the weight goal you’ve set, or finally making the salary you’ve always aspired to.
Aspirational goals are not easy to achieve but worth the effort once you reach them.
There are no shortcuts, are there, though?
You know by now that getting better at playing golf requires time and energy. No shortcut replaces hard work.
In reality, there are many things you can do to kickstart your learning curve and reduce the time you’ll need to get good.
You need a plan, and you need to execute that plan.
Follow a meaningful practice routine instead of hitting one tray after the other on the driving range.
Get gear that suits your game instead of the second-hand clubs in the corner of your basement fitted to another player’s swing and composture.
This means making sure you are giving yourself the best opportunity possible to achieve your goals in real life.
Invest in education, or make small changes to your daily routine that allow you to focus on what really brings you closer to your goals.
There are no shortcuts, but there are certain things you can do that increase your chances of success and motivate you to keep working on improving your life daily.
Sometimes, simpler is better
A great way to lower your scores on the golf course is to simplify the game.
Maybe that means using fewer clubs, taking a shorter backswing, or starting aiming for the widest part of the fairway instead of the hole.
Simplifying the game means you reduce the decision you need to make and always plan for the most straightforward shot possible.
In real life, that might mean that you establish a morning routine or life by string principles that reduce the number of decisions you need to make daily and give you a blueprint on how to react in a given situation.
There is no secret that limitations lead to higher creativity. That is true for the golf course and every other area in life. Watch this Ted Talk to learn more…
[embedded content]What to do next
If you’re a golfer, I gave you many tips on how you can improve your game. But think about how these tips might translate to your life and other goals you have.
If you never held a club in your hand, I’m sure what I said is true for other sports or activities you’re interested in.
Sport and hobbies can teach us a lot about ourselves, and many of the areas I touched upon are interchangeable.
Keep your cool, no matter the outcome, accept that success requires hard work, and give yourself the best opportunity to achieving your goals as often as possible.
With this in mind, you’ll make the most out of your hobby and will grow as a person and athlete, no questions asked.
About the Author
Hi, my name is Francesco. I am the owner of mygolfheaven.com. A site that helps golfers get better at the game and reviews the latest golf equipment.
I am not a golf pro, but I played the game for years and helped countless golfers o improve their game.
Golf is a cruel mistress, and I love the fact that playing a good round starts with the right mindset!
Visit my site to learn more about the game of golf, improve your game, or start your journey as a golfer!
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